Railroad-crossing



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R J. AUSTIN RAILROAD CROSSING.

No. 592,622. Patented Oct. 26,1897.

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No. 592,622. Patented Oct. 26, 1897.

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RAILROAD CROSSING.

No. 592,622. Patented 001;. 26, 1.897.

II'I'F \A. 7 V I FFICE.

ATENT STEPHEN J. AUSTIN, or TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

RAILROAD-CROSSING..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,622 dated October26, 1897.

Application filed May 5, 1897. Serial No. 635,168. (No model.)

To all whom it may col worn:

Be it knownthat I, STEPHEN J. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Terre IIaute, in the county of Vigo and State ofIndiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inRailroad-Crossings, of which the followingis afull, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a railroad-crossing of simpleconstruction, easy to manipulate, and in which one pair of the rails iscontinuous, while the other pair, arranged on a different level, isadapted to be met by movable rail-sections.

My invention possesses features of novelty hereinafter specificallypointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure Iillustrates a top plan view of the railroad-crossing, the movablerail-sections being turned to one side to allow the passage of atrainover the unbroken pair of rails. Fig. II shows a top plan view with thesaid movable rail-sections thrown into contact with the correspondingfixed ones to allow the passing of a train over the second pair ofrails. Fig. III is a side'elevation taken along the line III III of Fig.II. Fig. IV is a similar side elevation, except that it is taken alongthe line IV IV of Fig. I, showing the movable sections out of line withtheir corresponding fixed rails. Fig. V is a side elevation showing thebed-plate in which the movable rail-sections pivot. Fig. VI is avertical section, takenalong the line VI VII of Fig. II, showing thepivot of the movable portion in the position it assumes when the railsare in place, as shown in said Fig. II. Fig. VII is a correspondingvertical section, taken along the line VI VII of Fig. II, but showingthe pivot in the position which it assumes when the parts are displaced,as shown in Fig. I. Fig. VIII is a detail top view of the double lockingdevice for securing movable sections to their corresponding fixed rails.Fig. IX is a detail vertical section, taken along the line IX IX of Fig.II, showing means for preventing the movable sections from rising fromtheir places.

1 1 are the rail-ties.

2 2 are the continuous fixed rails.

3 3 are the rotatable rail-sections.

4L 4 are the second pair of fixed rails.

Adapted to be embedded intheties and on which rest the ends of the rails4 is a caststeel bed-plate 5, in'wliose center is an open ing thatreceives a bushing 6, in which is loosely seated a pivot-pin 7. The topof the pivot-pin 7 carries the before-mentioned rotatable rail-sections3. The pivot-pin is adapted to ride up and down, as shown in Figs. VIand VII, to allow the change of level of the movable sections 3, and isheld elevated or counterbalanced by a spring 27.

The pivot-pins 7 are surrounded by sleeves 7", that surmount and restupon the bushing 6. The central portion 3 of each rail-section 3 isrecessed on the under side and receives the rings 7 that fit over saidsleeves and are capable of telescoping thereon in the vertical movement,of the pivot-pins.

The rail-sections 3 are formed of cast-steel, and their ends areincreased in width to strengthen such portions by forming lugs 3 attheir outer sides. The ends of each section 3 have a tongue 3, thatengages beneath oppositely-formed opposing tongues 4 at the ends of therails "4.. i

8 is a lever-arm adapted to be manipulated by any proper source of powerand which at 9 receives a pin adapted to work in a slot opposite an arm10 and which at 11 11 is hinged to the web of the rail-sections'3.

12 12 represent a pair of connecting-links pivoted to the webs oftherail-sections 3 at 13 13, which impart a parallel rule or isochronousmovement to the said two rail-sections 3.

14 14 are curved inclines on which the ends of the movable rail-sections3 are adapted to ride from the level shown in Figs. I, IV, and VII tothat shown in Figs. II, III, and VI.

15 represents plates anchored to the railroad-ties, each of which platesis provided with a flange 16. (See FigLIX.)

17 shows flanged feet'hung from the convnecting-links 12, adapted toengage under the projection 16. This construction prevents therail-sections,when being operated, from rising and carrying the pivot 7-out of its seat.

18 is an arm pivoted at 9 to the lever-arm 8 and which, by reason of thebefore-mentioned slot at 9, enables a preliminary movetaneous movementthereof.

ment to be imparted thereto before motion is imparted to the part 10.The other end of this arm 18 is pivoted to a rocking bar 19, pivoted at20 to the arm 10 and whose opposite end is connected to a sliding rod20, that extends to one end of the rail-sections 3. The ends of therail-sections 3 are oblique in form and are adapted toabut thecorrespondingly oblique ends to the fixed rails l. Theends of said fixedrails 4 are inclosed in boxes 21, that receive locking-keys 22, heldextended by springs 23, Fig. II, which locking-keys are adapted toengage the ends of movable railsections 3. Isochronous motion isimparted to both of the rods 20 on the two movable railsections 3 bymeans of a bell-crank 24:, links 25, and rod 26, which accomplishes asimul- 28 are pins by means of which the pivot-pins 7 are secured to therail-sections 3.

By connecting the rail-sections to the pins 7 by means of the pins 28 ahinge-joint between said parts is effected and a limited verticalvibration of the rail-sections is permitted, and they are rendered morecapable of seating correctly with reference to the fixed rails againstwhich they abut.

The device is operated as follows: Assuming that the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. II, motion is first imparted to the leverarm 8. vThe preliminary motion of its leverarm carries the pin 9 alongits slot,imparting motion to the arm 18. This preliminary motion operates throughthe medium of the arms 19, 20, 24, 25, and 26, with the effect ofimpinging the rod 20 against the locking-keys 22, pressing the same backagainst their springs 23, releasing the movable rail-sections fromengagement and alinement with the fixed rails 4, and the further motionof the arm 8 turns the said rail-sections 3 upon their pivot 7, whilethe said rail-sections 3 ride down the inclines 14 to the position shownin Fig. I. The connection 10, being hinged at 11 to the rail-sections 3,allows a vertical movement thereof, as well as an oscillatory movement.When the parts are swung in position shown in Fig. I, the movablerailsections are below their original level and leave the continuousfixed rails 2 2 free to permit the passing of a train thereover.

I have shown and described the connectinglinks 12 pivoted to the webs ofthe rotatable rail-sections 3' and will make mention of a particularreason and ad vantage in so attaching the connecting-links. Theattachment of the links in the webs of the rail-sections permits therail-sections to descend into contact with the bed-plates, where theyare turned upon their pivots, a condition that would not be permitted ifsuch links were pivoted at a difierent elevation. The rail sections arealso held more firmly by reason of the pivotal connection being made inthe web at a location near the vertical center of the rails.'

I claim as my invention- 1. In a railroad-crossing,the combination witha pair of fixed rails forming a continuous track, of a second'pair ofbroken fixed rails, a pair of rotatable rail-sections, and means forcounterbalancing said rail-sections, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with a pair of fixed railsforming a continuous track of a second pair of broken fixed rails, apair of rotatable rail-sections, pivot-pins carried by saidrail-sections, springs on which said pins are seated, and means foractuating said rail-sections, substantially as described.

3. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with a pair of fixed rails.forming a continuous track'of a second pair of broken fixed rails, apair of rotatable rail-sections, pivot-pins carried by saidrail-sections, means whereby said rail-sections'are loosely jointed orhinged to said pins, and means for actuating said railsections,substantially as described.

4:. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with a pair of fixed railsforming a continuous track, of a second pair of broken fixed rails, apair of rotatable rail-sections, pivot-pins carried by saidrail-sections, pins connecting said rail-sections to said pivot-pins,and means for actuating said rail-sections, substantially as described.

v5. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with apair of fixed railsforming a continuous track of a second pair of broken fixed rails, apair of rotatable rail-sections recessed at their central portions,pivot-pins carried by said rail-sections, sleeves surrounding saidpivotpins and over which the recessedportions of said rail-sections areadapted to telescope, and means for actuating said rail-sections,substantially as described.

6. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with a pair of fixed railsforming a continuous track, of a second pair of broken fixed rails, apair of rotatable vertically-moving rail-sections provided at their endswith strengthening-lugs 3 formed at their outer surfaces, and

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means for actuating said rail-sections, substantially as described.

7. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with a pair of fixed rails,forming a continuous track, of a second pair of broken fixed rails, apair of rotatable vertically-moving rail-sections arranged to be broughtinto alinement with said pair of broken fixed rails, tongues on the endsof said broken pair of rails, tongues on said rail-sections adapted toengage the tongues of said broken rails, and means for actuating saidrail-sections, substantially as described.

8. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with a pair of fixed railsforming a continuous track, of a second pair of broken fixed rails, apair of rotatable vertically-moving rail-sections, and an operating-barvertically hinged to said railsections, substantially as described.

9. In a railroad-crossing, the combination with a pair of fixed railsforming a continuous track, of a second pair of broken fixed rails, a

pair of rotatable vertically-moving rail-sections, connecting-barslocated above the base of said rail-sections, and provided with apivotal connection in the web of said rail-sections, and means foractuating said rail-sections, substantially as described.

10. The combination of movable rail-sections mounted on pivots, and ameans of operating same consisting of a lever, parallelrule connectionbetween said movable sections, connection between one of said movablesections and said lever, a locking-pin on the fixed rails, and a key onsaid movable section, and connection between said key and said lever,substantially as described.

11. The combination of movable rail-sections pivotally mounted,connecting-bars pivoted to the sections, inclines upon which saidsections ride to the level of. their fixed rails, and a means adapted toprevent displacement thereof, consisting of fixed plates 15, providedwith flanges, feet carried by the connectingbars, said feet beingadapted to engage under said flanges, substantially as described.

12. The combination of bed-plates, vertisaid movable rail-sections areswung out of alinement, substantially as described.

13. The construction consisting of bedplates, movable rail-sectionspivoted in said bed-plates and adapted to rest below the level of theirfixed rails when out of line therewith, inclines adapted to carry saidmovable railsections to the level of their fixed rails, means ofoperating same consisting of a hinged lever connection, and a means oflocking same in line with the said fixed rails, consisting ofspring-actuated lugs carried on the fixed rails, and a means of'disengaging said lugs from engagement with the movable sections operatedby the preliminary movement of the said lever connection, substantiallyas described. STEPHEN J. AUSTIN.

In presence of- GEORGE LIGHT, J AMES KEENEY.

